Illuminated track diagram board



Sept. 25, 1956 s, NADKE 2,764,751

ILLUMINATED TRACK DIAGRAM BOARD Filed Nov. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

, I 96 M lI-all' 5 9 INVENTOR SIEGF/P/ED 6 40/65 ATTO R N EY Se t. 25, 1956 s. GNADKE 2,764,751

ILLUMINATED TRACK DIAGRAM BOARD Filed NOV. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2A.

INVENTOR .F/EGFIP/ED G/VADKE ATTORN EY Sept. 25, 1956 GNADKE ILLUMINATED TRACK DIAGRAM BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25, 1955 FIG. 7.

FIG. 6.

FIG. 8.

II/Z

FIC.9B.

FIG. 9A.

INVENTO R .S/EGFfi/ED G/VADKE ATTORNEY nite ILLUMINATED TRACK DIAGRAM BOARD Siegfried Gnadlre, Stuttgart-Zufienhausen, Germany, as-

signor to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware With respect to illuminable diagrams, particularly with track control desks employed with modern interlocking plants, the diagram to be represented is composed of single units arranged in mosaic, so-called diagram elements, in order to obtain a plurality of uniform manufacturing parts. These diagram elements mostly comprise two principal parts, i. e. the upper portion of the element carrying an illuminable top panel, and the lower portion which is, e. g. a so-called lamp holder carrying the signal lamps for illuminating said top panel of the element. The common support for all of the individual elements is formed by a grate consisting of a number of flat bars arranged side by side at intervals according to the length or width of the respective diagram elements.

According to conventional embodiments of this kind the lower parts of the elements containing the lamp holders are either screwed to the upper portion of the element which on its own part is screwed to the grate bars, or the lamp holder is directly screwed to the grate bars, while the upper part of the element is plug-connected with the lamp holder, or is plug-connected with intermediate bars to which the grate bars are screwed.

In order now to be able to utilize the element for all possible signal purposes, in particular for imitating track systems with the aid of diagram elements Whose top panels are provided with a wide variety of signalling symbols, it appears to be necessary to furnish the whole length of the grate bars with tap holes. However, since every diagram comprises a number of individual diagram elements which need not be illuminated-socalled blank elements-it will be obvious that most of the tap holes remain unused, i. e. resulting in a useless expense in machining the holes. Experience has shown that generally and depending on the kind of track diagram fifty and more per cent of the provided tap holes are usually unnecessary. Since the grate bars are appropriately made of drawn or rolled flat iron, the drilling and threading thereof remains an expensive and time-wasting procedure. Likewise the straightening of the intermediate bars, which is necessary for obtaining a flush positioning of the diagram elements, has proved to be rather difficult and requires much time.

For avoiding this drawback it has already been suggested to directly plug-connect the upper parts of the diagram elements with grate bars which are grooved both crosswise and lengthwise. In order to further eliminate the necessity of having to screw the lower parts of the diagram elements, in particular, the so-called lamp holdem, to the grate bars, or else in order to be able to mount the elements as a whole and without the employment of intermediate bars, directly to the grate bars, the mounting of the lower parts of the elements or of the elements as a whole directly to the grate bars iseffected, according to the invention, by meansof screwable or plug-in devices.

States Patent C In accordance with this invention, it is possible to r 5. The elements ice mount the parts or portions of the diagram elements to the grate bars either by means of the so-called slides and clips, or to plug-in the whole diagram elements, by means of two or more slotted, preferably flat-type plug springs arranged opposite the diagram element, into spring slots provided on the grate bars and which slots are the crosswise grooves therein.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself. will be best understood, by reference to the following description of an embodiment of. the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a lamp holding element and a translucent top panel, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 1A is an isometric exploded view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a side View of a grate partly in section;

Fig. 2A is an isometric view of a lamp holding element showing the aligning lugs thereof:

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a slide;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a clamp;

Fig. 5 is a top view of a number of lamp holders arranged side by side' between adjacent grate bars;

Fig. 6 is a front view of a translucent top panel cover showing its guiding and retaining springs;

Fig; 7 is aside view of the top panel cover shown in Fig. 6;-

Fig. 8 is a front view of a guiding and retaining spring used in Figs. 1, 1A, 6 and 7;

Fig. 9A is a top view of a pair of grate bars; and

Fig. 9B is a top view of a pair of grate bars with a plurality of aligned diagram elements in operating position therebetween and presenting a replica of a portion of the track layout. 7

Referring now to Fig.1, there is shown a lamp holding element 1 partly in section and mounted between a pair of parallel grate bars '4. 'The element 1 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending lugs 2 as seen more clearly in Fig. 2A, and which lugs are adapted to slidingly fit down into corresponding vertical slots. 3 of a pair of adjacent bars 4 as can be clearly seen in Fig. 1 are provided with recesses 10 at opposite ends as shown clearly in Fig. 2A. The element 1 is supported in position between a pair of adjacent grate bars by means of a pair of slides 5 and winged shape clamping pieces 9. The profile of the slides 5 is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and consists of a U-shaped structure having a pair of outwardly extending guiding lugs d, the purpose of which will be later explained. In each side of grate bars 4 there is cut a longitudinal groove '7 normal to the grooves 3 as shown in Figs. 1, 1A, 2 and 9A. Each of the slides 5 is adapted to be applied to a grate bar 5 by straddling the bar as shown in Fig. 2, namely, the opposite lugs 6 of each slide is adapted to slide down a pair of adjacent crosswise grooves 3 and bar and a slide shown then slidaoly move longitudinally in grooves 7' on opposite sides of the bar.

The upper part of recesses 1A of elements 1 are adapted to fit against the upper parts of the inner lugs 6 of slides 5 as is clearly shown in Fig. l. Cooperating with each slide 5 is a wing-shaped clamping piece Q which is screwed to the upper part of slide 5 by means of screw 10 which passes through threaded aperture 17 thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 1A. and 2. One of the wings 9a of clamp 9 is placed in. contact with the upper surface 13 of element 1 and. exerts a. clamping pressure against element 1 by forcing it downwardly against lug 6. Simultaneously the screw Ill-bears: against-' -the'up per surface of bar 4 to wedge lugs 6 against the upper surface of grooves 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The elements 1 are provided with signal lamps 11 which may be illuminated by a suitable source of electrical energy. Each of the lamps 11 is adapted to project within the diagram elements 12. The diagram elements 12 comprise a box-shaped structure and are provided with a top 13 of which portion 13a is translucent and which portion is adapted to be illuminated by lamps 11. The di agram elements further comprise a pair of alignment or plug springs 14 attached on opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 1A, 6 and 7, and which springs are adapted to fit in crosswise grooves 3 as shown in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 2, in a side view, shows a grate bar 4 with a slide 5 applied to said bar. The space 15 corresponds to half the length of a diagram element. In the cross groove 3 there is denoted the position of the guiding cam 2 of an element 1. From this figure there may also be seen how the guiding cam 6 of the slide 5 can be inserted via the cross groove 3 into the longitudinal groove 7 of the grate bar 4.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a slide 5 showing the orientation of the lugs 6 with respect to the balance of the structure.

Fig. 4 shows the wing-shaped clip 9 alone in an isometric view. By providing the double extension 9a, 9b on clamp 9, elements on either side of the clamp may be secured, as shown in Fig. 5.

Finally, in Fig. 5 there is shown a number of lamp holders 1, which are arranged side by side. From the drawing there may be seen how the lamp holders 1 are arranged between the grate bars 4. The slides 5 with their associating clips 9 are utilized for mounting two lamp holders 1 lying next to each other in the arrangement, but are also capable of clamping only one lamp holder 1 on one side. The side faces 16 of recess 1a of the lamp holder 1 prevent the slides 5 from slipping aside. The guiding or aligning lugs 2 serve to straighten the lamp holders 1 in the cross grooves 3 of the grate bars according to the desired position.

Fig. 6 shows a diagram element 12 which is mounted to a grate bar and which is retained in an exactly defined position by means of the springs 22 which are arranged to pass into the cross-wise grooves 13 in the grate bar 4. The grooves 23 and 24 serve the guiding or arresting respectively of the springs 22, as well as for the guiding of the slides 5.

Fig. 7 shows the same arrangement in a side view and permits one to clearly recognize the two springs 22 and the two grate bars 4.

Fig. 8 shows the detail of a spring 22. The slot 26 serves to efiect a sufficient spring action, while a suitable thickness of the spring furnishes the necessary rigidity. The set-E end 27 effects the guidance in the groove 23, and the flared-out end 28 of the spring serves to arrest the spring in the groove 7 (Fig. 6).

' Fig. 9A finally shows the arrangement of grate bars 4 and the position of the grooves 3. The slides and clamping pieces 9 are omitted from this figure in order not to underly complicate same. On the two lower ones in Figure 9B there are shown four diagram elements 12 with the seatings of their holding springs 22.

It will be understood that there are elements 1 disposed beneath the diagram elements 12 and the lamps 11 thereof serve to illuminate the translucent portions 13:: of the diagram elements. It should be further undcrstood that the translucent portions 1311 may be designed to represent difierent track elements other than those shown in the drawing.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof. and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable arrangement for illuminable diagrams comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel mounting bars, each bar having a longitudinal groove cut in opposite surfaces thereof and a crosswise groove cut in each of said surfaces, said crosswise grooves intersecting the longitudinal groove on the corresponding surface of said bars, the sets of grooves of each bar in register with like grooves of an adjacent bar, a plurality of sliders for mounting on said bars, each slider having a U-shape and having a pair of guiding lugs, One at each extremity of said slider, each lug adapted to pass through opposite crosswise grooves in a first direction and to then pass through the opposite longitudinal grooves in a second direction, said second direction normal to said first direction, main clamping means intermediate the legs of said slider for clamping said slider to said bar after movement thereof in said second direction, whereby tension is exerted between said guiding lugs and a shoulder of said longitudinal grooves, auxiliary means under control of said main clamping means, said auxiliary means adapted to exert a clamping action between itself and a portion of said slider intermediate its legs, each said slider ady justably movable along the length of a bar.

2. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lugs at the extremities of said sliders extend outwardly from said extremities in at least two directions, each direction normal to the other.

3. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said sliders has a portion intermediate its extremities which is complementary in shape to a surface of said bars.

4. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said intermediate portion is provided with a threaded aperture therethrough, said main clamping means adapted to cooperate with the threads of said aperture.

5. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said main clamping means comprises an adjustable screw.

6. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said auxiliary clamping means comprises a channel shaped member with outwardly extending flanges, said outward extension in a direction normal to the sides of said channel.

7. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a first diagram element adapted to fit between adjacent bars, each element adapted to be clamped by at least one of said outwardly extending flanges to a slider, a second diagram element adapted to cover said first element, and tension means coupled to said second element, said tension means adapted to cooperate with a pair of registering crosswise grooves in adjacent bars.

8. An adjustable arrangement as claimed in claim 7, further comprising four of said sliders and associated clamping means, each of said sliders spaced from the other on a bar and opposite a like pair of sliders on an adjacent bar, said four sliders and their associated clamping means adapted to secure a first diagram element.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tension means comprise a slotted spring element having a width substantially equal to the width of a crosswise groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,722 Smith June 19, 1934 2,094,134 Obergfell Sept. 28, 1937 2,315,420 Harrington Mar. 30, 1943 2,496,853 Burns Feb. 7, 1950 

